Mariners, Red Sox to honor Negro Leagues on Saturday

SEATTLE -- The Mariners and Red Sox will pay tribute to Negro League players on Saturday when they "Turn Back the Clock" to 1946 at Safeco Field.

Mariners players will wear the uniform of the former Seattle Steelheads and the Red Sox will dress as the Boston Royal Giants as part of the Mariners' annual African American Heritage Night for the 6:10 p.m. PT contest.

SEATTLE -- The Mariners and Red Sox will pay tribute to Negro League players on Saturday when they "Turn Back the Clock" to 1946 at Safeco Field.

Mariners players will wear the uniform of the former Seattle Steelheads and the Red Sox will dress as the Boston Royal Giants as part of the Mariners' annual African American Heritage Night for the 6:10 p.m. PT contest.

The Steelheads were a short-lived team in the West Coast Negro Baseball League, playing their home games at Sick's Stadium in Seattle as well as ballparks in Tacoma, Bremerton, Spokane and Bellingham.

Saturday's pregame ceremony will include a special tribute to Herb Simpson, the last known surviving member of the Seattle Steelheads who died in January in New Orleans at the age of 94.

The pregame celebration will honor some of the contributions of African-Americans in the Pacific Northwest, including longtime Seattle resident and NBA legend Bill Russell. Also honored will be former SuperSonics star Fred Brown, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bill Withers, former King County executive Ron Sims, business executive Art Harper and former University of Washington standout George Fleming, who was the first African-American elected to the Washington State Senate.

A special online-only ticket offer is available for the game. Prices are $20 for View Level and $35 for Main Level seats, with $5 from each ticket sold through this offer to benefit Senior Services. Tickets are available at mariners.com/africanamerican. The deadline for this special offer is noon PT on Friday.